Vital Theatre Company Announces Programming for Families

The award-winning VITAL THEATRE COMPANY, is pleased to announce that its 2008-2009 Family Programing will include 4 original musicals for children and families, performed by adults, "DAISY IN DISGUISE," "THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER," "THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE," and "THE FROG AND THE WITCH."  Public performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00am and 1:00pm, October 11, 2008 through April 26, 2009. School/Group Performances and Workshops, at a school or at Vital Theatre, run October 2008- June 2009. Tickets are $20, shows are appropriate for ages 3-12. For reservations, visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is located at 2162 Broadway, 4th Floor, at West 76th Street, on the Upper West Side.

There will be additional performances on: Columbus Day--Monday October 13th at 2pm, Veteran's Day-Tuesday November 11th at 2pm, December 18th, 19th, 23rd, and 26th at 7pm, December 24th and 25th at 1pm, December 29th-January 2nd at 11am and 1pm, Martin Luther King Day - Monday, January 19th and during Mid-Winter School Recess - Monday, February 16th, Wednesday February 17th, and Friday, February 20th at 1pm.

The first show of the season is "DAISY IN DISGUISE." Daisy doesn't seem to fit in at school. Since boys aren't interested in throwing a ball to anyone named after a flower, Daisy reinvents herself as "David" and embarks on a zany, outrageous journey. Daisy eventually learns that she can be herself and doesn't need to pretend to be somebody else. Book and Lyrics by STACIE LENTS, Music by Simon Gray. "DAISY IN DISGUISE" runs October 11th, 2008 through November 16th, 2008, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm. There will be an additional 2pm performance on Columbus Day - Monday, October 13th. There will also be additional performances on Veteran's Day-Tuesday November 11th at 2pm.

STACIE LENTS is the author of Tidal Waves in the Neighborhood and Laugh Out Loud (cry quietly), which Peter Filichia of TheaterMania wrote "is the best comedy I've seen all year." She will premiere another new play at Rutgers University in the spring, where she is on faculty. Stacie is also currently working on a commission for The School of Performing Arts in Edison, New Jersey. Professional acting credits include New York's Provincetown Playhouse, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ohio Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Hangar Theatre and Luna Stage Company. She received her MFA from Rutgers, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and her B.A. in Theatre from Yale University.

The second production of the season is "THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER," based on the award-winning book, The Golden Dreydl by ELLEN KUSHNER. Sara is miserable at the family Chanukah party, but when mysterious Tante Miriam arrives with the gift of a Golden Dreydl, everything changes. The Dredyl, an enchanted princess in disguise, whirls Sara away on an exciting adventure through a magical world. "THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER" is a delightful spin on the traditional story of "The Nutcracker" that weaves together threads of Jewish folklore with fantasy, humor and holiday cheer. With Book by ELLEN KUSHNER, and Music by THE SHIRIM KLEZMER ORCHESTRA. "THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER" runs December 6th, 2008 through January 3rd, 2009, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm. There will be special evening performances December 18th, 19th, 23rd, 29th and January 2nd at 7pm. There will also be additional performances December ! 29th ,30th , and January 2 at 1pm.

ELLEN KUSHNER is the host and writer of the award-winning national public radio show PRI's Sound & Spirit, and has created two albums and a series of live performance pieces based on the show. Her most recent novel is the award-winning The Privilege of the Sword (NYPL "Best Books for the Teen Age, Nebula nominee, Tiptree Honor Book, Locus Award). A popular public speaker, she also teaches writing at workshops in the U.S. and abroad, is a co-founder of the Interstitial Arts Foundation. She lives in New York City.

The members of THE SHIRIM KLEZMER ORCHESTRA also perform in "Naftule's Dream", an avant jazz/klezmer band which has recorded four albums on John Zorn's Tadzick/Radical Jewish Culture label. As "Naftules Dream" they have performed all over Europe including the Berlin, Germany Jazzfest, as well as the New York City Jazz Festival, the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival in Washington, DC and the Ashkenaz Festival of New Yiddish Culture in Toronto among others. Internationally recognized for rocking renditions of classic klezmer and Yiddish music as well as fresh and creative innovations, SHIRIM features some of the most respected and experienced virtuosos of the klezmer movement. Band leader Glenn Dickson was the klezmer soloist in the Hollywood film "A Stranger Among Us," and the band was featured on the soundtrack of Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry." Based in Boston, Shirim has four recordings out on Newport Classi! c and Northeastern Records.

The third show of the season will be "THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE." Whenever Chloe plays make believe, she loves to be in charge. But sometimes her friends think she gets a bit too bossy. When Chloe is left alone with her little terrier, Princess, she makes a wish that sends them both on an adventure in the Riverside Dog Park-where she soon discover that the big dogs play by different rules. With Book by LINDSAY JOELLE and Music and Lyrics by JUSTIN FISCHER. "THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE," runs January 10th, 2009 though March 1st, 2009, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm.. There will additional 1:00pm performances on Martin Luther King Day - Monday, January 19th and during Mid-Winter School Recess - Monday, February 16th, Wednesday, February 17th, and Friday, February 20th.

LINDSAY JOELLE was introduced to Vital Theatre Company as a performer in "Cinderella's Mice". She is an alumnus of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, a member of the Dramatists Guild, and holds an English degree from Columbia University. Lindsay is currently writing the lyrics and book for Wonderland, a rock musical, with collaborator Doug Silver.

JUSTIN S. FISCHER recently completed a run as Associate Music Director for Trip of Love, a new dance musical, which had its international premiere in Osaka, Japan in April. He has served as resident music director for the Columbia Gorge School of Theatre (White Salmon, WA), the Naples Dinner Theatre (Naples, FL), the Winter Park Playhouse (Winter Park, FL) and Seaside Music Theater (Daytona Beach, FL). Regionally, Justin has music-directed for KJK Productions, Random Farms Kids Theater, Winter Park Playhouse, Paper Moon Theatre Company, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and the University of Central Florida. Justin has received musical theatre commissions from the Erie Playhouse (Erie, PA), and the Seagle Music Colony (Schroon Lake, NY), and choral commissions from organizations across the country.

The final production is "THE FROG AND THE WITCH" in celebration of Environmental Awareness Month. Pyx, the frog, is the best singer in the village of Wishwell, until the unthinkable happens: He croaks! Determined to get his voice back, Pyx follows a plume of thick black smoke to the outskirts of town where a powerful witch brews potions. Pyx just might be able to get her voice back, but only if he can get the witch to clean up her act. With Book and Lyrics by Sammy Buck and Music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO. "THE FROG AND THE WITCH' runs March 14th,2009 through April 26th, 2009, Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm.

Sammy Buck has had three musicals in the New York Musical Theatre Festival, two with composer Dan Acquisto: Like You Like It (New Voices Prize, 2nd Runner-Up Audience Prize) & The 7-Year B*tch (Outstanding New Musical, Talkin' Broadway Summer Festival Citations); and Common Grounds (composer, Doug Katsaros; Outstanding New Musical honorable mention). As a screenwriter, Sammy recently wrapped two features, Red Hook and Fade to White (co-writer). He's also one of the Emmy-winning team-members of the TV Land Awards website and a writer for the weekly audio web series Man of the People. Member: BMI, The Dramatists Guild, Inc. sammybuck.com

DANIEL S. ACQUISTO received his MM Composition from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He co-wrote with wordsmith Sammy Buck "Like You Like It" (New Voices Prize, Cardiff International MT Festival) and has been seen onstage with him in their "The Seven-Year B*tch". Theatrical commissions: "Wild About Harry" (NYMF dance piece), "Dancing in the Dark," "Antigone: The Rock Musical" (Studio Arena Theatre), Tada!, nine children's musicals at Merkin Hall, A-Train Musicals, Raw Impressions, FUSE, various incidental music . Other commissions: USAF Band, UC's Men's Chorus (Shawnee Press, publisher). Three short films. He also is a music director, percussionist, arranger/orchestrator, and educator. Member: ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild, Inc. www.likeyoulikeit.com

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is located at 2162 Broadway, 4th floor, at 76th St. in New York City's Upper West Side. Vital commissions 4-5 new musicals for children and families each season. Since its founding in 1999, Vital Family Series Productions have been honored with two AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE by the Off Off Broadway Review and received high acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being "a wonderful place for parents to introduce their kids to the glories of live theatre, done well and at modest prices." (OOBR.) Now in its tenth season, the company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences. To date, the company has presented 94 original productions for over 167,000 children and their families.

For complete schedule and workshop information visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

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